The Portland daily press., 1887-04-05

State commerce law has been that a CON-
pany has been formed here which will put
on line Of freight propellers between Ban
gor and New York. 1t will be called the
Penobscot Steam Navigation Company, and
has large capital Frank Ii. Clergue, Esq.
Is president, and Charles L. Field treasurer.
The men connected with the company are
prominent citizens and mean business.
The Commissioners at Work.
WASHINGTON. April 4.-The Interstate
Commerce Commission has this morning pro-
mulgated the following rule Of proceeding;
Application made for the oficial action of the
commission shall be made by petition which shall
set Iorth the facts on which they are founded and
De verified by the oath Of the applicant of some
authorized agent or attorney.
Senator Dolph presented to the Commits
sloners>a memorial from the Board of Trade
at Walla Walla in relation to high charges.
Ihe memorialists pray for relief in time to
save this years crop from exorbitant freight
charges. He also presented a memorial from
the Board Of Trade of Portland, Ore, in re-
iatlon to the long and short haul feature.
W.. IL. Ross, I'll. ID. johnson, S. Waxelbaum
anu j, +. Hanson, committee representing
tue Chamber OF Commerce of Macon, Ga,
were accorded a hearing upon a subject
brought up by the Atlanta Board and South
ern railroad men on Saturday. The follow
ing letter, written by the instructions of the
commission, explains itself:
TO g. c. Cheney, Esq, General Superintendent
q the tdfddtd1t ETpress COngpofv Montreal:
Dear Sir-Your letter of the list REQUESTING the
decision OF the Commission npon the question
whetner dhe Interstate commerce act applies
70 express companies, has been laid before the
Commission and duly considered. II any express
company desires to be heard by the Commission
on on, Ine quest ION you raise, an early opportunity
VIII pc onered Tor the purpose. but until such a
hearing Is applied for the Commission will assume
that the law does apply to such companies.
very respectfully yours,
TN CooLEY, Cairman
1t is rather a striking fact that the South.
which has always been very anxious to have
an Interstate commerce bill passed, is now
thoroughly alarmed, and beseeching the
commissioners to make all sorts of rulings
to help its interest. Saturday a committee
fIom the Atlanta Chamber Of Commerce
appeared before the Commission. Governor
Bullock, as chairman of the committee, read
paper which in substance set forth that
sudden change would seriously injure many
interests and would actually paralyze others.
The document sets forth that the railway
managers fear that under the operations Of
the Interstate act they may be forced
to increase their through rates ON April 9TH.
That would destroy the entire system of
rates on which the Southern manufacturing
industries have been founded and are now
successfully operating. Wholesale dealers
have established their prices upon the basis
OF these rates and sudden increase would
unset and demoraliZe all branches Of trade.
fliteen or twenty members of the South
ern Railway and Steamship Company, also
made representation to the committee, for
liberal treatment. Henry Fink, vice presi-
dent Of the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia road, said the rigid construction of
the long and short haul provision meant
bankruptcy.
1t is said that, largely on account of these
representations, the commissioners have
about decided that they will suspend the ex-
ecutlon Of the long and short haul clause Of
the bill In every case when a railroad ap-
peals until all the roads affected have had
time to be heard from, and then the general
question will be passed upon, and an appli-
cation be made in each case Under this
policy, the Southern Railway and Steamboat
Association and possibly all other railroads,
Will be allowed to continue its present prac-
tlce OF permitting more to be charged for a
short than a long haul, until the commission
passes on the general question.
NEW YORK, April At is said here that
theatrical companies and circusses will feel
the new acts effects more than anybo dy
else. 1t IS reported that the circus people
viii test the constitutionality Of the law, and
Tor that purpose will subscribe $4,000 and
engage ex-senator Allen G. Thurman of
Ohio to look after their interests. Upon
the largest shows the new order of things
will have less effect than upon the little
one. Some of the theatrical companies will
ind scenery an expensive luxury. Heavy
scenery is being replaced where possible by
drop scenes painted upon light material that
can De packed In smallscompass.